Soddies Win Fifth Straight Game in High-Scoring Contest

AMARILLO, TX (August 26, 2026) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (30-23, 66-55) defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (26-27, 57-65), 10-9, on Wednesday night at HODGETOWN. Despite issuing a season-high in walks, the Soddies' bats were on full display as they extended their lead over the Texas League South and won their fifth straight game.

Toeing the HODGETOWN rubber for the first time in his career this evening was John West who caught the first batter he faced looking at strike three. Jason Schiavone put a damper on West’s first Double-A inning, however, as the Hooks’ backstop hit a two-run homer to get the visitors on the board.

The first two Soddies were retired in the home half, bringing the ever-dangerous Avery Owusu-Asiedu to the dish. In what has only been his 14th start in an Amarillo uniform, he smacked a 2-2 pitch at the knees to center field for his 10th home run as a Sod Poodle, cutting the deficit in half with one swing.

🔟 HOMERS IN 1️⃣4️⃣ GAMES FOR AOA 😱

THIS MAN IS UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/jb6FRy9bbw

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) August 26, 2026

After West posted scoreless innings in the second and third, the Soddies evened the score in the bottom of the third. Trent Youngblood kicked things off with a walk and motored around the bases on Alberto Barriga’s two-out double down the left field line to plate the tying run.

Corpus Christi responded with back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth as Trevor Austin brought a pair home on his two-run shot and was followed by Schiavone’s second blast of the evening, making it two straight nights with a multi-homer game for the catcher.

It would not take long for the Soddies to close the gap as Danny Serretti reached base via hit-by-pitch to open the frame. On a 2-1 count, Angel Ortiz punished the breaking ball from Nic Swanson, sending it to the berm in right for a two-run bomb that brought the Amarillo run total to four.

Angel Ortiz NO DOUBTER 🚀#SoddiesSummer pic.twitter.com/WJvwiGBwkA

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) August 27, 2026

With two away in the bottom of the fifth, Druw Jones drew a walk and stole his 29th base of the year, allowing Serretti to drive him home with ease on his single to center to tie the game at five. An inning later, Owusu-Asiedu struck again to give Amarillo the lead by driving in Torin on a single up the middle.

Amarillo rallied once more in the seventh as the Soddies loaded the bases for the top of the order. With two away, Torin singled to bring around two while Owusu-Asiedu added another on a knock of his own. Ben McLaughlin then got in on the fun with a bloop single to make it three straight RBI singles and give the Sod Poodles a 10-5 advantage.

Walks hurt the Soddies in the eighth as four were issued as part of Corpus Christi’s four-run inning that was capped by a Will Bush two-run double, but Carlos Rey was able to fend off any more damage to keep the lead intact. The lefty came back out for the ninth to close it out and was able to work around a pair of walks to earn the save and complete the 10-9 Soddies win.

POSTGAME NOTES

AOA-OK: With his first inning homer, Avery Owusu-Asiedu now has 10 home runs in his first 14 games with the Sod Poodles and has hit safely in all 14 games (8/11-c)...he has now homered in four straight games for the second time in his Soddies tenure, making him the first Double-A player since 2018 to post two separate four-game home run streaks, matching Will Smith who did so for Tulsa (Dodgers).

GRAN TORIN-O: Checking in with another multi-hit effort tonight was Cristofer Torin...he has collected two or more hits in five straight games (8/21-c), the longest such streak by a Sod Poodle this season...he is one of seven players this year with a five-game multi-hit streak or longer.